Thanks Living: Take Notice!

But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. Psalm 5:11 (NKJV) 

But let those who run to You for safety be glad they did; let them break out in joyful song. May You keep them safe—their love for You resounding in their hearts. Psalm 5:11 (VOICE)

Rejoice: to brighten up

Trust: have hope, make refuge, confide in

Ever: continuance, duration

Shout for joy: (cause to) sing (aloud, for joy, out), triumph

Defend: to entwine as a screen; to fence in, protect, hedge in

Love: beloved like, friend

Name: by implication honor, authority, character

Joyful: jubilant, rejoice, triumph

Take Notice! 

Notice where my trust is to be placed—in You (God Almighty). 

Notice why I am to shout for joy—because God protects me.

Notice how long I'm to shout—continually (because God is faithful).

Notice who I am to love—God because of his authority, character, simply because of who God is. 

Notice the reason for my joy—God Himself. 

Thanks Living is all based and centered on God Himself. No matter my circumstances. No matter my questions. No matter if I understand or not. It all is dependent on God, who is faithful, unchanging, loving, and in complete control. 

Thanks Living—Take Notice! 

Spirit-Love

"He also told us about the love you have ·from [or in] the Holy Spirit." Colossians 1:8 (EXB)

First off, I need to make sure that my love from the Holy Spirit is shining, so that it is noticeable to others. 

And lastly, I when I see others displaying and living a life filled with Spirit-Love, I need to talk about that! 

No, the goal isn't to be "noticed", but I am to be living a life that points those around me to God. People will notice things about each of us, wether we want them to or not. The goal then is that what they see MOST is the Love of God. 

How does the love of God impact my life? Does it change my attitude? Does it change my actions? Does it change my interaction with those around me? Does it effect my decisions? 

If I want others to talk about the Spirit-Love I have, it begins with being permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG).

Each One

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 1. Here is what I learned.

Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. Psalm 1:1 (AMP

God’s blessings follow you and await you at every turn: when you don’t follow the advice of those who delight in wicked schemes, When you avoid sin’s highway, when judgment and sarcasm beckon you, but you refuse. Psalm 1:1 (VOICE)

God’s blessings. The sign on my front door says, “God blesses us every day,  It’s up to us to notice.” Some of God’s blessings are hard to miss... like the wonderful blessings God gave me while at Chicagoland Speedway. 

Some of God’s blessings are more subtle. It could be something that makes me smile, like Max flying to my shoulder and saying “happy”. Or a phone call, letter, email from a friend. Or a verse that reminds me that God loves me. 

Not all blessings are showy and create a fan-fair. Often it’s the every day and often “ordinary” blessings that I overlook, yet those are the very blessings that remind me that God loves and is caring for me. 

To create a positive day, I need to take notice of each one of the blessings God gives me every day. 

“Blast the News”

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 150. Here is what I learned.

Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp! Psalm 150: 3 (AMP)

Praise Him with the blast of trumpets high into the heavens, and praise Him with harps and lyres. Psalm 150:3 (VOICE)

Does God hear my praise? Do those around me, hear my praise to God? Or do I praise God silently and very quietly? 

Each and every day I should be blasting on the trumpet—praise to God for who He is! I should be shouting it for all to hear—most importantly for God to hear! Oh, God can hear the quietest whispers, for even my thoughts are words to God.... but why whisper God’s great goodness—that is “blast worthy news!” 

Praise God in prayer is the first way to “blast the news”. The second way to “blast the news” is to tell others about who God is, and what He’s done. And lastly, I need to be living my life in accordance with God’s Word, as a way to “blast the news”. 

How many times have it missed the opportunity to “blast the news” of God’s greatness because I didn’t take the time to notice God? How many times have I missed the opportunity to “blast the news” of God’s greatness to others, because I was more concerned with what they’d say? How many times have I missed the opportunity to “blast the news” of God’s greatness simply because I was too busy? 

To create a positive day I need to “blast the news” of God’s greatness, first to Him, then to those around me. 

First NOTICE then React

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 29. Here is what I learned.

The voice of the Lord makes the hinds bring forth their young, and His voice strips bare the forests, while in His temple everyone is saying, Glory! Psalm 29:9 (AMP)

God’s thunder sets the oak trees dancing A wild dance, whirling; the pelting rain strips their branches.

We fall to our knees—we call out, “Glory!” Psalm 29:9 (MSG)

The voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks and strips the forests bare. In his Temple everyone shouts, “Glory!” Psalm 29:9 (NLT)

"In his temple doth every one speak of his glory." Those who were worshipping in the temple, were led to speak of the greatness of Jehovah as they heard the repeated thunder-claps. The whole world is also a temple for God, and when he rides abroad upon the wings of the wind, all things are vocal in his praise. We too, the redeemed of the Lord, who are living temples for his Spirit, as we see the wonders of his power in creation, and feel them in grace, unite to magnify his name. No tongue may be dumb in God's temple when his glory is the theme. The original appears to have the force of "every one crieth Glory," as though all things were moved by a sense of God's majesty to shout in ecstasy, "Glory, glory." The Treasury of David 

When something gets our attention, we usually act on it. We take notice, and then react, or we take notice and ignore it. But we do notice! 

When God does something, and gets our attention, we need to first NOTICE it, and then we need to react. Our reaction should be one of praise and honor to God. 

This morning, I heard a noise outside my window, when I looked out, there

Two of the skunks running to safety.

were three little skunks playing. I watched them for a bit as they played tag around the tree. When I stepped out on my balcony to take a picture, the flash startled them. Two of the skunks ran for cover, the other simply keep exploring the area. Two kinds of reactions. Two were scared and knew where to go for safety. The other felt safe enough to keep having fun. 

When God gets my attention, could be with a thunderstorm, a sunset, a blessing, or a tragedy—first do I NOTICE? Secondly, how do I react? Do I ignore Him and what He is doing? Or I run and hide.... seeking safety? Do I praise God because of Who He is, knowing that I am safe in His care? 

To create a positive day, when God acts, I need to first NOTICE then react with praise and honor to Him simply because of Who He is. 

Taken Notice of Me!

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 33. Here is what I learned.

The Lord looks down from heaven; He observes everyone. Psalm 33:13 (HCSB)

The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. Psalm 33:13 (NLT)

"The Lord looketh from heaven." The Lord is represented as dwelling above and looking down below; seeing all things, but peculiarly observing and caring for those who trust in him. It is one of our choicest privileges to be always under our Father's eye, to be never out of sight of our best Friend. The Treasury of David

“Look at me! Look at me!” Remember as kids we wanted the attention of our parents, teachers, etc. We’d do what we could to get their attention, and then we felt so cool, and awesome that they noticed us... or we “made them notice us”. Now as adults, we often think it awesome, when a celebrity, or sport’s star looks our way or gives us an autograph. Guess we really all like to be noticed sometimes. 

Psalm 33:13 tells us that God notices us, and we don’t have to jump up and down or wave our arms or shout... He simply looks and sees us. 

Lord willing tomorrow, I’ll have my broken spinal stimulator removed. I’ll be the ‘center of attention’ tomorrow. The Nurses, Doctors, and staff will be focused on me! The sad part is most of the time, I won’t be aware of their attention as I’ll be asleep. But I’m thankful that they will be “looking down and seeing me”. 

Yet, better than being seen my the Medical staff, I’m being seen by God! He is carefully watching over me and is aware of all the details happening around me. He is “peculiarly observing and caring for me... and I’m never out of sight of my Best Friend!”  Even when I am unaware of what is happening, I can enjoy peace because God is watching!

To create a positive day, I only need to take a moment to remember, God has taken notice of me!